Africa’s high regional physique is internet hosting its annual summit in Ethiopia this weekend to debate the way forward for the continent of some 1.4 billion folks, however throughout the continent the organisation is changing into much less fashionable.
Set as much as “promote the unity and solidarity of the African States”, analysts say the African Union is dealing with a legitimacy disaster among the many continent’s youth after failing to fulfill their expectations.
African nations are battling navy coups, disputed elections and protests impressed by hardship worsened by overseas help cuts.
‘A bloc of outdated leaders’
Africa has the youngest inhabitants on the earth, with greater than 400 million folks aged 15 to 35 years outdated. However it is usually residence to a number of of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders — a paradox that has contributed to an upsurge in coups.
With a younger inhabitants set to double by 2050, it’s the solely quickly rising area the place its persons are getting poorer. In numerous nations and on social media, African youths view the AU as a bloc of outdated leaders and one which sees their pursuits as much less of a precedence.
The organisation has missed alternatives to be people-centred and citizen-driven and has as a substitute centered largely on governments and leaders, stated Liesl Louw-Vaudran, a senior analyst with the Disaster Group.
“What the youth is admittedly asking and why persons are annoyed is as a result of this isn’t an African Union for residents. It is not a people-driven African Union,” Ms. Louw-Vaudran added.
Elections are one instance of the AU’s loopholes
As a number of African nations held elections for brand new Presidents over the past yr, there was a transparent sample of sidelined Opposition candidates, disputed outcomes and protests from largely younger voters after incumbents have been reelected.
Regardless of the election outcomes, the AU was typically accused of being fast to aspect with reelected incumbents and gradual to name out flawed processes.
As authorities in Uganda shut down the web and clamped down on the opposition throughout the East African nation’s presidential election in January, the African Union Fee issued a press release “commending” the conduct of the ballot.
A day after, the AU election observer mission issued a preliminary report noting “stories of harassment, intimidation and arrest of opposition leaders, candidates, supporters’ media and civic society actors” within the election.
The AU social media submit commending the election enraged many youths, with one individual retorting: “Dictatorship membership has spoken.”
One key problem the AU has battled with through the years is weak enforcement of resolutions, in line with Macharia Munene, a professor of historical past at america Worldwide College in Nairobi. And that is as a result of “not all members meet their dues or totally settle for what is mostly determined,” he stated.
An AU Summit coming amid a brand new world order
On the thirty ninth African Union Summit being held in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa on Saturday (February 14, 2026) and Sunday (February 15, 2026), the theme is water and sanitation. Discussions will function the continent’s response to local weather change and humanitarian crises following overseas help cuts from worldwide companions equivalent to america.
Observers say the AU Summit will present a chance to align continental priorities with worldwide companions, particularly at a time of discussions round a brand new world order, stirred by US President Donald Trump, with overseas leaders signalling shifting world alliances.
Nonetheless, critics urge the African Union to look inward by paying nearer consideration to the continent’s most urgent challenges and doing extra to carry leaders accountable once they fail to fulfill expectations.
In Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, resident Chima Ekwueme stated the African Union doesn’t care about holding leaders accountable, citing Nigeria’s lethal safety crises and financial hardship regardless of its wealthy mineral wealth.
“They’re there for their very own pursuits,” Ekwueme, 32, stated of the AU. “In Nigeria, we’ve all it takes to place issues so as (however) take a look at how troublesome issues are and the place is the AU.”
Printed – February 14, 2026 10:46 am IST